Refrigerated Display Case with Temperature Controlled Shelves

ABSTRACT

The present application provides a refrigerated display case. The refrigerated display case may include a refrigeration component, an air plenum in communication with the refrigeration component, a shelf in communication with the air plenum, a phase change material tank positioned about the shelf, and a phase change material positioned within the phase change material tank such that a substantially uniform temperature is maintain across the shelf.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application and the resultant patent relate generally to modular refrigeration systems and more particularly relate to a refrigerated display case with temperature controlled shelves using a phase change material for a substantially uniform temperature distribution thereacross.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The modern supermarket may have any number of refrigerated display cases to store and display different types of frozen and refrigerated products. Many different types of refrigerated display cases may be used, including multi-deck coolers, reach-in coolers, and the like. Refrigerated display cases generally are modular in nature such that a number of individual units may be combined to create a display case of any suitable size or length.

Generally described, the products in a refrigerated display case are refrigerated based on (1) an airflow distribution from the rear wall of the case towards the front and (2) an air curtain extending down the front to limit infiltration therein. Such a configuration, however, may not provide for a substantially homogenous temperature distribution from the back to the front of the product shelves. Rather, the air is warming as the airflow cools the products in the back and flows towards the front. Specifically, the temperature of the airflow may have risen by the time the airflow reaches the products in the front of the case. A substantially uniform temperature distribution, however, may be desired by customers and may be required for certain types of products. Similarly, such a configuration may not allow for different temperature regions within a single case.

There is thus a desire for an improved refrigerated display case. Such a refrigerated display case may provide a substantially uniform temperature distribution across each shelf and/or allow for shelves of different temperature regions within a single case. The refrigerated display case may provide such a substantially uniform temperature distribution and/or different temperature regions without decreasing overall efficiency or increasing costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application and the resultant patent thus provide a refrigerated display case. The refrigerated display case may include a refrigeration component, an air plenum in communication with the refrigeration component, a shelf in communication with the air plenum, a phase change material tank positioned about the shelf, and a phase change material positioned within the phase change material tank such that a substantially uniform temperature is maintain across the shelf

The present application and the resultant patent further may provide a refrigerated display case. The refrigerated display case may include a refrigeration component, an air plenum in communication with the refrigeration component, a number of shelves in communication with the air plenum, a number of phase change material tanks positioned about the shelves, and a number of phase change materials positioned within the phase change material tanks such the shelves may include a number of different temperature zones.

The present application and the resultant patent further may provide a refrigerated display case. The refrigerated display case may include a number of shelves, a number of phase change material tanks positioned about the shelves, and a number of encapsulated phase change materials positioned within the phase change material tanks such the shelves may include a number of different temperature zones.

These and other features and improvements of the present application and the resultant patent will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the several drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a known refrigerated display case in the form of a reach-in cooler.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a known refrigerated display case in the form of a multi-deck cooler.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the refrigerated display case of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a refrigerated display case with a number of shelves having phase change material tanks as may be described herein.

FIG. 5 a sectional view of an example of an encapsulated phase change material shell.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a refrigerated display case with a number of shelves having phase change material tanks as may be described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows an example of a refrigerated display case 10. In this example, the refrigerated display case 10 may be in the form of a reach-in cooler 15. FIG. 2 shows an example of the refrigerated display case 10 in the form of a multi-deck cooler 20. In both examples, the refrigerated display case 10 may be substantially modular and may extend to any suitable length. The refrigerated display case 10 may define a refrigerated space 25. Any type or number of refrigerated or frozen products may be positioned within the refrigerated space 25. The refrigerated display case 10, and the component thereof, may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. Other types of refrigerated display cases 10 may be used.

In the case of the reach-in cooler 15, the refrigerated display case 10 also may include a number of door panels 30. The door panels 30 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. The door panels 30 may be transparent in whole or in part. In the case of the multi-deck cooler 30, the refrigerated display case 10 may be largely open to the consumer given the use of the air curtain as described above.

As is shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerated display case 10 may include a tub assembly 35. The tub assembly 35 may include a refrigeration unit 40 therein. Any type of refrigeration unit 40 and refrigeration components may be used herein. The tub assembly 40 may be supported by a number of skid rails 45. Other types of support structures may be used herein.

An aft wall 50 may be positioned adjacent to the tub assembly 35. The aft wall 50 may include an inside back panel 55, an outer foam panel 60, and an air plenum 65 therebetween. The aft wall 50, and the components thereof, may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. The air plenum 65 may be in communication with the refrigeration unit 40. The inside back panel 55 may have a number of back panel apertures 70 therein. The back panel apertures 70 may be in communication with the air plenum 65 such that a flow of refrigerated air 75 from the refrigeration unit 40 may flow through the air plenums 65 and into the refrigerated space 25. A number of shelves 80 may be positioned adjacent to the inside back panel 55 and supported thereon. Any number of the shelves 75 may be used herein in any suitable size, shape, or configuration. A ceiling panel 85 may be mounted on the aft wall 50. A portion of the air plenum 65 may continue into the ceiling panel 85 so as to direct a flow of air as an air curtain 90 downward along the front of the refrigerated display case 10. The refrigerated display case 10, and the components thereof, are described herein for the purposes of example only. Many other and different refrigerated display case designs and configurations may be used.

FIG. 4 shows a refrigerated display case 100 as may be described herein. The refrigerated display case 100, and the components thereof, may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. Similar to that described above, the refrigerated display case 100 may include a tub assembly 110 with any type of refrigeration components 115 therein. The refrigerated display case 100 also may include an aft wall 120 positioned adjacent to the tub assembly 110. The aft wall 120 may include an air plenum 130 in communication with the refrigeration components 115. A ceiling panel 140 may be mounted about the aft wall 120. The air plenum 130 may continue into the ceiling panel 140. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

The refrigerated display case 100 also includes a number of shelves 150 positioned on the aft wall 120 within a refrigerated space 155. Any number of the shelves 150 may be used in any suitable size, shape, or configuration. Any number or type of products may be positioned on the shelves 150. A flow of refrigerated air 160 thus extends from the refrigeration components 115 through the air plenum 130, and along the shelves 150 to chill the products thereon. An air curtain flow 170 also may extend downwardly from the ceiling panel 140 downward so as to limit infiltration into the refrigerated space 155. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

One or more of the shelves 150 of the refrigerated display case 100 may include a phase change material tank 180 positioned thereabout. The phase change material tanks 180 may be positioned on top of, underneath, within, or otherwise adjacent to or about each of the shelves 150. The phase change material tank 180 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. The phase change material tank 180 may extend along all or part of each shelf 150. Each shelf 150 also may have multiple phase change material tanks 180. Phase change material tanks 180 of differing sizes and configuration may be used herein together.

Each of the phase change material tanks 180 may have a phase change material 190 therein. In this example, the phase change material 190 may be an encapsulated phase change material 200. As is shown in FIG. 5, an encapsulated phase change material 200 includes the phase change material 190 within a capsule shell 210. The phase change material 190 absorbs and releases thermal energy to maintain a regulated temperature. Specifically, as the temperature rises, the phase change material begins to melt from a solid state to a liquid state as it absorbs heat energy. As the temperature falls, the phase change material 190 solidifies and returns to the solid state as it releases energy back to the environment. The capsule shell 210 provides a microscopic container for the phase change material 190. The shell 210 keeps the phase change material 190 from melting away in a liquid state. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

The phase change material 190 may be a natural substance based on, for example, vegetable feedstock, or a petroleum based products such as a paraffin wax and the like. The phase change material 190 also may include various types of water based substances as well as various types of mineral based substances such as salt hydrates and the like. Suitable phase change materials may be provided by Entropy Solutions, Inc. of Plymouth, Minn. under the “PURE TEMP” mark, RG Energy Efficient Systems, LLC, of Ashville, N.C. under the “savEnrg” mark, Microtek Laboratories, Inc. of Dayton, Ohio, Rubitherm Technologies GmbH of Berlin, Germany, and other sources. Other types of phase change materials 190 may be used herein.

By placing the phase change material tank 180 under or adjacent to each or some of the shelves 150, the overall temperature gradient from the front to the back of the shelf may be eliminated or reduced. Specifically, the extent of the temperature distribution may be reduced based upon the extra thermal capacitance of the phase change material 190 in that the phase change material works as a latent thermal storage at a single temperature. Given such, the temperature may be substantially uniform across the shelf once the evaporators are set to operate at a single evaporator temperature. Moreover, such a constant temperature does not rely on the flow of refrigerated air 160 to meet a given temperature target. Rather, the phase change material 190 has a temperature target designed to melt at a designated temperature. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

FIG. 6 shows a further example of a refrigerated display case 220. In this example, one or more of the shelves 150 may create a number of different temperature zones 230. In this example, a first temperature zone 240, a second temperature zone 250, a third temperature zone 260, and a fourth temperature zone 270 are shown. Any number of the different temperature zones 230 may be used herein. The different temperature zones may be are created by using phase change materials 190 with different target temperatures for each zone 230. Specifically, each temperature zone 230 may vary from the others by a number of degrees depending upon the intended products to be positioned thereon or other parameters. The differing temperatures may be provided without requiring different airflow temperatures.

The refrigerated display case 100 described herein thus provides a substantially uniform temperature distribution across each shelf 150. Moreover, the use of the phase change material tanks 180 may be independent of the overall refrigeration system. As such, the use of the phase change material tanks 180 may be original equipment or part of a retrofit. Although the refrigerated display case 100 has been described in context of a multi-deck cooler 20, it will be understood that reach-in coolers, other types of refrigerated display cases, and other types of refrigeration devices also may be used herein. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to certain embodiments of the present application and the resultant patent. Numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof. 

I claim:
 1. A refrigerated display case, comprising: a refrigeration component; an air plenum in communication with the refrigeration component; a shelf in communication with the air plenum; a phase change material tank positioned about the shelf; and a phase change material positioned within the phase change material tank such that a substantially uniform temperature is maintain across the shelf.
 2. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of shelves and a plurality of phase change material tanks.
 3. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, wherein the refrigerated display case comprises a multi-deck cooler or a reach-in cooler.
 4. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, further comprising an aft wall and wherein the air plenum extends along the aft wall.
 5. The refrigerated display case of claim 4, wherein the aft wall comprises a plurality of aft panel apertures in communication with the air plenum and the shelf.
 6. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, wherein the phase change material comprises an encapsulated phase change material.
 7. The refrigerated display case of claim 6, wherein the encapsulated phase change material comprises a capsule shell.
 8. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, wherein the phase change material comprises a solid state, a liquid state, and a transition state.
 9. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, wherein the phase change material comprises a feedstock-based product.
 10. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, wherein the phase change material comprises a petroleum-based product.
 11. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, wherein the phase change material comprises a water-based product.
 12. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of shelves, a plurality of phase change material tanks, and a plurality of phase change materials.
 13. The refrigerated display case of claim 12, wherein the plurality of phase change materials comprises a plurality of different temperature targets.
 14. The refrigerated display case of claim 12, wherein the plurality of phase change materials comprise a plurality of different temperature zones about the plurality of shelves.
 15. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, further comprising a ceiling panel and wherein an air curtain extends from the ceiling panel.
 16. A refrigerated display case, comprising: a refrigeration component; an air plenum in communication with the refrigeration component; a plurality of shelves in communication with the air plenum; a plurality of phase change material tanks positioned about the plurality of shelves; and a plurality of phase change materials positioned within the plurality of phase change material tanks such the plurality of shelves comprise a plurality of different temperature zones.
 17. The refrigerated display case of claim 16, wherein the plurality of phase change materials comprises a plurality of different temperature targets.
 18. The refrigerated display case of claim 16, wherein the plurality of phase change materials comprise a feedstock-based product, a petroleum-based product, and/or a water-based product.
 19. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, wherein the plurality of phase change materials comprise an encapsulated phase change material with a capsule shell.
 20. A refrigerated display case, comprising: a plurality of shelves; a plurality of phase change material tanks positioned about the plurality of shelves; and a plurality of encapsulated phase change materials positioned within the plurality of phase change material tanks such the plurality of shelves comprise a plurality of different temperature zones. 